A few years ago, crossing the $1 million mark overseas was considered a major milestone for Telugu cinema. For a long time, a $1 million overseas gross served as a key benchmark of success for several Telugu stars, including Nandamuri Balakrishna.
However, following the strong performance of some of his recent films, producers and distributors significantly raised expectations. This shift also led to Balakrishna’s films commanding much higher prices in the overseas market.
Riding on the proven success of the Balakrishna–Boyapati Srinu combination and the sequel factor, the overseas rights of Akhanda 2 were acquired for an astronomical amount. Even after selling the film to multiple international territories, the project needed to collect around $1.6 million overseas to reach the break-even point.
Unfortunately, Akhanda 2 struggled at the box office and took a considerable amount of time to even reach the $1 million mark. The film eventually crossed the milestone only 24 days after its release.
While this marked Balakrishna’s fifth film to achieve a $1 million overseas gross, it also ended up being a major commercial disappointment. Reports suggest that the overseas distributor suffered losses exceeding ₹5 crore on the deal.
Ram Gopal Varma Slams Sivaji Over Controversial Remarks on Women’s Clothing
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has entered the growing controversy surrounding Telugu actor Sivaji’s recent remarks on women’s clothing, delivering a sharp rebuke on social media. Sivaji’s comments, made during the pre-release event of Dhandora, sparked widespread criticism for being misogynistic and regressive, drawing strong reactions from both industry figures and netizens.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Ram Gopal Varma condemned Sivaji in unequivocal terms. In a strongly worded post, the director rejected any form of moral policing, asserting that Sivaji had no authority to comment on how women in society or the film industry choose to dress. Varma’s statement added fuel to an already escalating debate within the Telugu film fraternity.
The controversy began when Sivaji, who recently portrayed the antagonist in Court, praised a female anchor for wearing a saree and went on to advise actresses to avoid revealing outfits. He argued that beauty lies in “complete attire” rather than physical display, and suggested that women who dress differently may face private ridicule despite public appreciation. Sivaji further compared women to nature and his mother, emphasizing what he described as modesty and restraint, while citing legendary actresses and Rashmika Mandanna as examples of earning respect through both work and dressing choices.
Following these remarks, several prominent voices from the Telugu film industry—including Chinmayi Sripada, Manchu Manoj, Lakshmi Manchu, and Anasuya Bharadwaj—publicly criticized Sivaji, calling his statements outdated and inappropriate. With Ram Gopal Varma’s intervention, the issue has intensified, reigniting discussions around freedom of expression, gender sensitivity, and moral policing in cinema and public spaces.